title: Management of severe malaria in the intensive care unit.
abstract: Severe malaria is a medical emergency requiring early intervention to prevent death. This article highlights key aspects of the management of severe malaria syndromes in the intensive care unit, with a focus on individual case management of imported malaria. Key differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of severe malaria by endemicity and by age group are emphasized. In all groups with severe malaria, intravenous artesunate is the antimalarial agent of choice. This article discusses specific antimalarial therapies, optimal supportive management strategies, differences from strategies for bacterial sepsis, and trials of adjunctive therapy for severe malaria in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Cedric P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yansouni
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: Acidosis; Adjunctive therapy; Antimalarials; Fluid management; Respiratory failure; Sepsis; Severe malaria